Jim Burt (American football)

NFL player


Name=Jim Burt
DateOfBirth=Birth date and age|1959|6|7|mf=y
Birthplace= Orchard Park, NY
DateOfDeath=
College=Miami (FL)
Position=Nose tackle
DraftedYear=
DraftedRound=
Stats=yes
PFR=BurtJi00
DatabaseFootball=BURTJIM01
NFL=
years=1981-1988
1989-1991
teams=New York Giants
San Francisco 49ers
ProBowls=1986

James P. Burt (born June 7, 1959 in Orchard Park, New York) is a former American football player who played for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). Burt played nose tackle for the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXI and the 49ers team that won Super Bowl XXIV.

Burt attended the University of Miami, where he started on the football field for the Hurricanes and was eventually inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame. [ [http://www.umsportshalloffame.com/zfootb.htm Football Inductees] , umsporsthalloffame.com, accessed January 13, 2007. ]

Burt joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1981. He made the Pro Bowl in 1986 and finished his career with his 20 quarterback sacks. Burt was respected throughout the league for his toughness and determination, which resulted in him going from being an undrafted rookie free agent to a Pro Bowler.Gola, Hank. [http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/story/467121p-393109c.html Burt with 'Boys as Tuna helper] , November 1, 2006, accessed April 29, 2007. ] He is also known for knocking out 49ers quarterback Joe Montana on a pass in . Montana's pass was picked off and returned for a touchdown by Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. The Giants won, 49-3, on their way to winning Super Bowl XXI.

Although many people often credit Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor with inventing the "Gatorade Shower" on coaches following wins, Burt actually created it in 1985. [ [http://www.amanet.org/books/catalog/0814472990_Timeline.htm Highlights from the History of Gatorade] , amanet.org, accessed January 13, 2007. ] As Carson stated in his 1987 book "Point of Attack:The Defense Strikes Back" head coach Bill Parcells was especially hard on Burt in practice. Parcells often made Burt raise a 50 lb. dumbbell repeatedly off the ground in practice to simulate raising his arm powerfully out of his stance at the snap of the ball. Burt exacted revenge on Parcells after a win in 1985 by dousing him with a cooler of Gatorade. This has since become a tradition in football analogous to the champagne showers teams make in their locker rooms after winning a championship.

Burt battled back problems with the New York Giants which ultimately caused Parcells to announce his retirement in 1988. Burt however disagreed and signed with the 49ers where he played until his career ended in 1991.

During the 2006 season Burt travelled to Dallas to give moral support to his former tormentor Parcells who was then head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Burt also delivered a pre-game speech and stood on the sidelines exulting Dallas' defensive players.

Burt's son Jim Burt, Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and also went to Miami, but played collegiate baseball rather than football for the Hurricanes. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/college/news/2003/06/11/miami_capsule/ Miami Hurricanes 2003 summary] , sportsillustrated.com, accessed January 13, 2007. ]

Burt has been a resident of Saddle River, New Jersey. [Popper, Steve. [http://www.bigtrain.org/published/archives/burttimes.html "Burt Jr. Tackles First Base in Class A"] , copy of article from "The New York Times", July 5, 2004. Accessed May 13, 2007. "Burt Jr. has time. While driving from his parents' home in Saddle River, N.J., to Brooklyn on Thursday for his second game with the Cyclones, he listened to the broadcast of the Mets' game and heard the description of Valent bobbling a ground ball and making an errant throw to Al Leiter covering first."]

ee also

*History of the New York Giants (1979-1993)Jim played high school football in Orchard Park N.Y.; his teammates included Craig Wolfley, who played offensive lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Larry Pfohl, who would later find fame as professional wrestler Lex Luger.

References

External links

* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BURTJIM01 Career Statistics]